Trolley catcher and retriever.



No. 784,678. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. W. W. HOFFMAN & P. W. POWERS. TROLLEY CATGHER AND BETRIEVER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

WHIICSEZB No. 784,678. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905; W, W. HOFFMAN & F. W. POWERS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TROLLEY GATGHER AND RETRIEVBR. APPLIOATION'IILBD smmzs, 1904.

'2 H'HIIIIIIIIM Z/VVENTOR:

W 4. B 4 Z *M m Altorne d' I/VJTNESSES- UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ILLIAM W. HOFFMAN AND FRANCIS POW ERS, OF EST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO ELECTRIC & STEAM RAILIVAY SUPPLY COM- PANY, OF LAFAYETTE. INDIANA.

TROLLEY CATCHER AND RETRIEVER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 784,678, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed September 23, 1904. Serial No. 225,655.

To whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. HOFFMAN and FRANCIS W. POWERS, citizens of the United States, residing at Vest Lafayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana,

have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley Catchers and Retrievers; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven- IO tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley catchers and retrievers, the objects and I 5 advantages of which will more fully appear in the following specification, the particular features of novelty being succinctly pointed out in the claims. I

To more fully understand the invention,

reference is had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred construction and arrangement of the component elements of the device, in which the same letters inclicate the same parts in the several views, and

in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the casing, the operating parts being shown in elevation with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal mechanism. Fig.

2 is a central vertical transverse section looking to the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the tripping mechanism, the springs and housing being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a detail view, in side elevation, of the tripping device in its tripped position, a fragment of the disk only being shown. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the tripping mechanism with the detent-bar shifted to the right and secured in its lowermost position for converting the device into a catching mechanism only without the retrieving feature; and Fig. 6 is a view in elevation, on a reduced scale, of the support carried by the dashboard of the car to which the casing is detachably secured.

s A is a cylindrical casing having its periphcral surface slotted, as at A", and provided with the internally and externally extending central boss A on its rear wall, the front portion of the casing being left open, if desirable, as illustrated in the drawings, but 5 normally closed by the outer plate of a wind ing-drum hereinafter referred to.

B is a spindlerigidly supported at one end within said boss A and at its other end is provided with suitable means for holding in position thereon the winding-drum referred to. For the purpose of illustration we have simply shown a washer or cap-plate B, secured to the outer end of the spindle by the screw 7).

C is a sleeve revolubly mounted on the spin- 6O dle B and provided with the disk I), having the annular rim D, on theinner face of which are formed the ratchet-teeth (Z.

The peripheral surface of therim D is provided on one side of its center with the longitudinally-curved lug E and rearwardly of said lug E, and disposed on the opposite side of the center of said rim is a second longitudinallycurved lug E, projecting in the opposite direction.

F is a coiled spring interposed between the sleeve 0 and the casing, which spring has asufficient motive power to pull down the trolley-pole when brought into play against the tension of the springs ordinarily employed 7 5 to hold the trolley-wheel in contact with the trolley-wire.

The windingdrum for the trolley-rope is loosely journaled on said sleeveC within the space formed between the disk D and the front of the casing, and this drum comprises the peripheral wall G, the central vertical partition G, and the side plates 0 g, the side plate g being adapted to substantially close the front of the casing, although a front plate may 5 be employed, if desired.

H represents dogs pivoted to the outside face of the side plate g, which dogs are provided with the teeth lt, disposed in alinemcnt with the teeth clof the rim D, butnormally held 9 out of engagement therewith by the free'ends of the springs /L, secured at their other ends to suitable supports.

Within the space formed by the vertical partition G and side plate (I is a coiled motor-springJ, interposed between the windingdrum and the sleeve C, which spring is sufiiciently strong to normally rot-ate the windingdrum for keeping the trolley-rope I taut, but too weak to overcome the tension of the springs normally holding the trolley-wheel in contact with the trolley-wire.

Atthe top of the casingAis secured in any suitable manner the housing K, being disposed over the slot A and adapted to contain a tripping mechanism hereinafter described. This housing may be provided with a suitable handle 7: for the purpose of portage and may form either a separable or integral part of the casing.

For the purpose of having ready access to the mechanism within the housing one or more of the walls thereof may be in the nature of a detachable plate, the front wall of the housing being thus shown detachable in Fig. 2.

The tripping mechanism comprises the elongated detent-bar L, slotted, as at L", and pivotally mounted within said housing on the pivot-screw L, supported by the sidewalls of the casing and passing through said slot L". Between the head of the screw L and the detent-bar L is interposed a spring-pressed washer orfriction-washer of any suitable construction and material. The object of the friction-washer is to permit of the longitudinal movement of the detent-bar and at the same time retarding its movement to a certain extent, and this may be further regulated by the adjustment of a suitable spring adapted to press the washer in position. In the drawings the washer is designated as M, engaged by a suitable spring m, adjustably secured to the casing by the screw m.

The forward end of the detent-bar L is provided on its underneath edge with a tooth Z and on its upper edge with thetooth Z.

N designates a weak spring secured at its rear end to the top of the housing and at its free end projecting beneatha pin it at the forward end of the detent-bar Land exerting an upward pressure thereon.

O is a strong spring similarly secured at one end to the top of the housing and projecting forwardly and downwardly at its free end above said detent-bar L, tensioned to press downwardly and adapted to normally rest at its free end on a ledge or stop 0, carried by the housing. On the underneath face of this fiat spring 0 is carried a block 0', disposed adjacent the tooth Z and forming a yielding stop for the forward end of the detent-bar.

P is a dog pivoted to the rear end of the detent-bar L and having its lower end normally projecting downwardly beneath the lower edge of the detent-bar L in the path of the lug E, a coiled spring interposed between said dog P and a stop 1), carried by the bar L, normally tending to hold said dog P in engagement with the stop 1) for limiting the rearward swing of the dog P.

ing a lip disposed beneath the block 0 and immediately above the upper edge of the detent-bar L. This spring Q is tensioned to press downwardly and is of agrcater strength than the spring N, so that when released it will hold the detent-bar L in its lowermost position against the upward pressure of the spring N.

R designates a spindle journaled in the rear wall of the housing, which may be suitably reinforced at this portion for the purpose, the inwardly-projecting end of the spindle having a cut-away portion 0', leaving the shank 1" adapted to project beneath the strong spring Q atits bent end. The outer end of the spindle B. is provided with an index linger or handle 1- which will serve as a means for operating the spindle R and indicating the position of the shank or extension R. It is obvious in Figs. 1 te l: that when the shank or extension is in its uppermost position the spring Q will be held in an inoperative position with respect to the detent-bar; but when the spindle R is rotated to bring the shank or extension 1 to its lowermost position the lip g of the spring Q will press against the detent-bar Land hold the same rigidly in position with respect to the disk D.

It is obvious that duplicate mechanism may be carried at each end of the ears; but in practical operation and for cheapness it is preferable that the casing and mechanism be of a portable character. With this object in view We have shown a metal frame, preferably of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6, adapted to be secured to the dashboard of a car in any suitable manner. The metallic frame S in the construction illustrated is of an oval form provided with an apertured portion s at its base for the reception of a lug (0, carried at the bottom of the casing A, the upper end of the frame S being provided with a recess s, adapted to register With the recessed portion t of a locking-button Tand to receive a lug (0 carried by the top of the casing opposite the lug a.

A hook U is provided in any convenient place to wrap the rope I around when desired.

Then the-parts are in the positon shown at Figs. 1 and 2, the winding-drum is free to rotate in either direction and holds the trolleyrope taut; but the clutch-disk D is held against rotation by the tooth Z on the detent engaging the lug E. Should the trolley jump the wire, however, the pole springs upwardly with some little force and the winding-d rum being rapidly rotated to the right the pivoted IIO dogs H are moved outwardly, and the teeth It thereon engaging the ratchet-teeth (Z of the clutch-disk jars the latter sufficiently to the right to release the tooth Z from engagement with the lug E, the spring N then elevating the forward end of the detent-bar out of engagement with the clutch-disk. The clutchdisk being thus released will be revolved to the left by its actuating-spring and being locked to the winding-drum by the interposed dogs H will rotate the winding-drum also and retrieve the trolley-pole.

While the clutch-disk is being rotated to the left the lower end of the pawl P will ride over the curved upper face of the lug E, the dog being free to swing to the left against the tension of the spring 12.

In resetting the parts the trolley-rope is pulled upwardly, (the springs controlling the trolley-pole assisting theoperatiom) and the dogs H being retained in engagement with the clutch-disk by the tendency of the drum and disk to rotate in opposite directions the disk also is rotated to the right, Winding up its metor-spring.

During the disks rotation to the right the lug E engages the lower end of the dog P, which initially swings the forward end of the detent-bar downwardly around its pivot L, and the continued rotation of the disks moves the detent-bar bodily to the right, the forward end of same resting beneath and held down in position by the resiliently-mounted block 0. (See Fig. 5.) During continued rotation of the disk to the right the forward end of the detent-bar rides over the curved upper face of the lug E, the. upward rise being allowed for by the resiliency of the spring 0, carrying the block 0.

When the rope has been sufficiently paid off of the drum and the lug E being to the right of the tooth Z, the manual pull on the rope is released and the lug E engages the tooth Z and moves the detent-bar bodily to the left, the parts again assuming substantially the position shown in Fig. 1, when upon a slight downward pull on the trolley-rope the pivoted dogs H will be forced out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth (Z by the springs It, and the mechanism is again reset.

When it is desired to use the apparatus as a catcher only, it is obvious from the foregoing description that by turning the index finger or handle 1- to the left from the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, the spring Q will be released from its inoperative position and will press downwardly on the detentbar L, as shown at Fig. 5. In this position it is manifest that the detent-bar will not be released from the disk should the trolley leave thewire, as the spring Q, is stronger than the spring l. The locking-dogs H will, however, cooperate as heretofore with the disk for arresting the upward movement of the pole.

We do not limit ourselves to the exact details shown and described, the same simply showing the preferred embodiment of the invention, and many modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we wish it particularly understood that although we have for the purpose of clearness of description only referred to one lug E and E on the clutch-disk a plurality of such lugs may be disposed around the 'periphery of the disk.

hat we claim, however, is

1. The combination with the winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of rotation of said disk and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means normally exerting upward pressure on the d etentbar.

2. The combination with the Winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined fixed lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of retation of said disk and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means normall y exerting upward pressure on the detentbar.

3. The combination with the winding-dr um, dislgactuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs formed integral with said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of rotation of said disk and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means normally exerting upward pressure on the detent-bar.

4. The combination with the wind ing-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, said lugs being curved and taperingrearwardlyand formingopposedabutmentfaces, a pivoted detent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of rotation of said disk and to-en gage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and meansexerting upward pressure on the detent-bar.

5. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alinedlugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with a tooth on its forward end, a dog pivoted at the rear end of said detent-bar, said tooth and dog adapted to project respeetivel y in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

6. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with atooth on its forward end, a dog pivoted at the rear end of said detentbar and a stop therefor, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

7. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic locking means therefor, of non-alined lugs *arried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with a tooth on its forward end, a spring-operated dog pivoted on the rear end of said detent-bar and a stop therefor, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

8. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic locking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar capable of longitudinal and vertical movement, a tooth on the forward end of said detent-bar, a pivoted dog and stop therefor at the rear end of said detent-bar, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

9. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuatingmeans and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-a-lined lugs mounted on the peripheral edge of said disk, said lugs being curved on their upper face and tapering toward each other, forming opposed abutment-faces, a slotted detent-bar, a pivotpin supporting said detent-bar within said slot, a tooth on the forward end of said detent-bar, a pivoted dog at the rear end of said detent-bar, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of one of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said detentbar.

10. The combination with the windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs mounted on the peripheral edge of said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of rotation of said disk and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means normally exerting upward pressure on the detent-bar.

11. The combination with the windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs formed integral with the periphery of said disk, at pivoted dctent-bar provided with forward and rear projections adapted to ride over said lugs in one direction of rotation of said disk and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means normally exlugs mounted on the peripheral edge of said disk, said lugs being curved and tapering rear-- and to engage same in the opposite direction of rotation, and means exerting upward pressure on the detentbar.

13. The combination with a windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs mounted on the peripheral edge of said disk, a pivoted detent-bar provided with a tooth on its forward end, a dog pivoted at the rear end of said detent-bar, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

let. The combination with a Winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs mounted on the peripheral edge of said disk, said lugs being curved and tapering toward each other forming opposed abutment-faces, a pivoted detent-bar provided with a tooth on its forward end, a dog pivoted at the rear end of said detent-bar and a stop therefor, said tooth and dog adapted to project respectively in the path of said lugs, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said. detentbar.

15. The combination with the windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of a detent-bar capable of vertical and longitudinal play, a re .siliently-mounted buffer-block disposed adjacent the forward end of said deten t-bar, means carried by said disk normally engaging said detent-bar, means normally exerting upward pressure on said detentbar for operating same vertically, and cooperating means between said disk and detent-bar for depressing said detent-bar and bodily shifting the same longitudinally beneath said resilient bufferblock.

16. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a detent-bar capable of vertical and longitudinal play, a tooth formed on the forward end of said detent-bar, a dog pivoted at the rear end of said detent-bar, said tooth and dog being arranged in alinement with said lugs respectively and adapted to ride over in one direction of rotation of the disk and to engage therewith in the opposite direction of rotation, means normally tending to operate said detent-bar vertically, and a resiliently-mounted buffer-block disposed adjacent the forward end of said detentbar.

17. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, at detent-bar capable of IIO vertical and longitudinal play, a tooth formed on the forward end of said detent-bar, a springcontrolled dog pivoted at the rear end of said detent-bar and a stop therefor, said tooth and dog being arranged in alinement with said lugs respectively and adapted to ride thereover in one direction of rotation of the disk and to engage therewith in the opposite direction of rotation, means normally tending to operate said detent-bar vertically, and a resiliently-mounted buffer-block disposed adjacent the forward end of said detent-bar.

18. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs having opposed abutment-faces carried by said disk, a detent-bar capable of longitudinal and vertical play, a tooth on the forward end of said detent-bar cooperating with one of said lugs on said disk, a pivoted dog carried at the rear end of said detent-bar cooperating with the other of said lugs on said disk, a spring extending longitudinally .above said detent-bar, a bufl'er-block carried by said spring and normally supported adjacent the upper forward end of said detent-bar, and means exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said detent-bar.

19. The combination with a winding-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlock-' ing means therefor, of non-alined lugs mounted on the periphery of said disk and having opposed abutment-faces, a slotted detent-bar, a headed pivot-pin supporting said detent-bar within said slot, allowing vertical and longitudinal play of said detent-bar, a frictionwasher interposed between said headed pin and said detent-bar for partially retarding the latterslongitudinal movement, atooth formed at the forward end of said detent-bar cooperating with one of said lugs on said disk, a spring-controlled pivoted dog and stop therefor at the other end of said detent-bar cooperating with the other of said lugs, a spring extending longitudinally above said detentbar, a support for the forward end of said spring, a buffer-block carried by said spring adjacent the forward end of said detent-bar, and means exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said detent-bar.

20. The combination with the windingdruni, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of a slotted detentbar, apivot-pin supporting said detent-bar within said slot, allowing vertical and longi tudinal play of said detent-bar, resilientlymounted means engaging and pressing against said detent-bar for partially retarding the latters longitudinal movement, cooperating interlocking means carried by said disk and detent-har, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

21. The combination with a windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of a slotted detent-bar, a

pivot-pin supporting said detent-bar within said slot, allowing vertical and longitudinal play of said detentbar, a springpressed washer on said pivot-pin engaging said detentbar for partially retarding the latters longitudinal movement, cooperating interlocking means carried by said disk and detent-bar, and means normally exerting upward pressure on said detent-bar.

22. The combination with the winding drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of a pivoted deten tbar and interlocking means between said detent-bar and disk, and adjustable means for holding said detent-bar in its locked position with reference to said disk.

23. The combination with the windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of a pivoted detentbar and interlocking means between said detent-bar and disk, and adjustable means for holding said detent-bar in its locked position with reference to said disk,comprising a spring normally tending to press against said detentbar and operating means for withdrawing said spring from engagement with said detent-bar.

24. The combination with the windingdrum, disk, actuating means and automatic locking means therefor, of a pivoted detentbar and interlocking means between said detent-bar and disk, and adjustable means for holding said detent-bar in its locked position with reference to said disk,comprising a spring adapted to press against said detentbar, and

means for withdrawingsaid spring out of engagement therewith,comprising a spindle having a shank portion projecting transversely beneath said spring, and means for rotating said spindle.

25. The combination with a winding-d rum, disk, actuating means and automatic locking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar capable of vertical and longitudinal play, a tooth formed at the forward end of said detent-bar cooperating with one of said lugs, a pivoted dog at the rear end of said detent-bar cooperating with the other of said lugs, means exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said detent bar, a resilientlymounted buffer-block disposed adjacent the upper forward end of said detent-bar, a spring having a bent end normally resting beneath said lnifler-block and tensioned to spring downwardly into engagement with said detent-bar, and means for controlling the movement of said spring.

26. The combination with a wimling-drum, disk, actuating means and automatic interlocking means therefor, of non-alined lugs carried by said disk, a pivoted detent-bar capable of vertical and longitudinal play, a tooth formed at the forward end of said detent-bar coop crating with one of said lugs, a pivoted dog at the rear end of said detent-bar cooperating with the other of said lugs, means exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said d etent-bar, a resiliently-mounted buffer-block disposed adjacent the upper forward end of said detent-bar, a spring having a bent end normally resting beneath said buffer-block and tensioned to spring downwardly into ongagement with said detent-bar, and means for controlling the movement of said spring, comprising a suitably-supported spindle provided with a projecting shank extending transversely beneath said spring and an index-linger for rotating said spindle.

27. The combination with a slotted casing, of a Winding-drum, disk, actuating means and interlocking means therefor, inclosed within said casing, a housing on said casing above said slot, a detent-bar pivotally mounted in said housing above said slot and capable of vertical and longitudinal play, non-alined lugs carried by the periphery of said disk and adapted to operate adjacent said slot, a tooth on the forward end of said detent-bar cooperating with one of said lugs, a pivoted dog carried at the rear end of said detent-bar cooperating with the other of said lugs, a resiliently-mounted buffer-block adjacent the upper forward end of said detent-bar, and means exerting upward pressure on the forward end of said detcnt-bar.

28. In portable trolley-retrieving mechanism, the combination with a frame adapted to be carried on the front and rear of a car, said frame provided at its base with an aperture and at its upper end with a recessed portion and a recessed pivoted locking-button cooperating with said recessed portion of said frame, of a portable casing provided on its underneath and top faces with lugs adapted to register With said aperture and recesses, and internal mechanism cooperating together for normally holding the trolley-rope taut and mechanically retrieving the trolley-pole upon the sudden upward movement of the latter.

29. In portable trolley-retrieving mechanism, the combination with an oval frame adapted to be carried on the front and rear of a car, said frame provided at its base with an aperture and at its upper end with a recessed portion and a recessed pivoted lockingbutton cooperating with said recessed portion of said frame, of a cylindrical casing provided on its underneath and top faces with lugs adapted to register with said aperture and recesses, and internal mechanism cooperating together for normally holding the trolley-rope taut and mechanically retrieving the trolley-pole upon the sudden upward movement of the latter.

in testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

\VILL IAM W. HOFFMAN. FRANCIS W. POVVERS.

\Vitnesses:

Cnins'rornn (J. JACKSON, FRANK CLEMENS. 

